Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly negotiating multimillion-dollar deals with Hollywood celebrities to secure the rights to record and utilise their voices in artificial intelligence projects.
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According to MyBroadBand, the company is in talks with Judi Dench, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the project’s confidential nature. Meta representatives have declined to comment.
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Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is rushing to finalise deals ahead of its Connect 2024 event in September, where it plans to unveil a new suite of AI tools.
While the exact applications for the voices remain unclear, discussions have included potential uses such as chatbots that could serve as digital assistants similar to Apple’s Siri or as virtual companions.
For instance, users might interact with a chatbot that speaks in Awkwafina’s voice.
Negotiations between Meta and various talent representatives have experienced numerous halts due to disagreements over the terms of voice usage.
Meta aims to secure rights for extensive use over a fixed term, while talent representatives seek more restrictive terms.
The rise of AI has unsettled many in Hollywood, who worry about the technology’s impact on job security.
During last year’s labour disputes, screenwriters and actors fought for protections against AI.
Despite these concerns, SAG-AFTRA, the primary actors’ union, has reached an agreement with Meta on usage terms.
Previously, Meta explored creating text-based chatbots modelled after celebrities like Dwyane Wade and Paris Hilton, but that program has since been discontinued.
The company has also launched an AI studio enabling content creators to develop their own chatbots.
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Picture: Carlos Alvarez / Gallo
